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Context:
Failure of GLF and Economic reforms undermines Mao’s influence and legitimacy within the Party and Chinese society. Coincided with the rise of moderate and more bureaucratic communist ideology within the Party itself. Mao Ze Dong instigates the Cultural Revolution in order to retain influence within the party and society by characterising and demonising critics and moderates as “corrupted by bourgeoisie values” and by contrast, illustrate himself to be morally superior as a true Communist. -
1965
Jiang Qing prompted Yao Wenyuan, a literary critique, to criticise the mayor’s play, which they perceive as an attack on Mao. Leads Up to a general criticism of literature and art by Qing that ran afoul or excluded party ideology. -
May 16, 1966
Mao instigates the Cultural Revolution by issuing a vague declaration of “bourgeois corruption” within the party and motivates and calls on the Red Guards to start a witch hunt against the “unknown enemy”. Red Guards organise themselves to uncover any sort of “unrevolutionary” teachings, activities, and people; this results in anyone who had been critical or skeptical of the CCP being judged publicly by the organisation. This movement spreads quickly among the country. -
May 25, 1966
First Dazibao. Propaganda media was utilised in order embolden and encouraged criticism an violence against accused “reactionaries” in academia and in the party. This was an attempt at blatant character assasination of the accused without any shred of evidence. -
May 29, 1966 (1)
Red Guards form at Beijing University. Exemplified the massive spread of Red Guard recruitment and activities. Students had various motivations for membership; dissatisfaction with the education system, the idolisation of Mao and Maoist commands, and personal grievances against each other. -
May 29, 1966 (2)
Mao’s edicts for “purging” within the party were vague and open to interpretation. Combined with a religious fervor, the situation led to mass accusations and mob judgement on the accused. Accusations often traced back to the instigators of the Red Guard as well. -
Aug 5,1966
Mao writes a dazibao against Liu Shaoqi. This emboldens the Red Guard in their attacks against those in authority positions within the CCP -
August 8, 1966
The CCP (Mao) gives formal support to the Red Guard’s activities through the ratification of the "Sixteen Points" and therefore, emboldens the force to act more radically without fear of judgement. The Cultural Revolution gains legitimacy by the government. -
August 18,1966
Red Guard rallies at Beijing in Tiananmen Square with Mao’s blessing and support. They were encouraged to smash the “four olds”, cultural values and systems which contradicted Mao’s ideology. Purged those who belonged to the “Seven Kinds of Black”. Expanded on the list of excuses on which accusations could be made. -
January 1967
Mass accusations expand and chaos and anarchy results from the proliferation of mob mentality throughout China. Inner Conflict within the Red Guard also results in further chaos within China. Mao’s blessing on the anarchists also prevented local authorities and the government from taking any sort action against the rebels. -
Spring 1968
Jiang Qing and Lin Biao promoted Mao’s imagery and ideology in all facets of chinese society, through the integration of imagery depicting him as a god-like figure, and the requirement for students to carry Mao philosophy in the “Little Red Book” at all times. Mao became the definition of moral good and therefore, demonised and legitimised the threat that critics and “enemies of Mao” posed to his utopian vision of China. Emboldened revolutionary activity. -
July 1968
The Red Guard was dismantled due to the chaos that they caused → industrial production decreased, thousands of chinese intellectuals were killed or suppressed, schools were disabled for the duration, and 53/97 party members were ousted. Mao ordered the Red Guard to be dismantled by the PLA and the bureaucratic government and other agencies were now taken over by the military. -
December 1968
Mao initiates the “Down to the Countryside” movement to send urban Youth to do manual labour in order to be “re-educated” by the peasants. Results in many deaths and an estimated 16 million being forced to abandon their schooling. Greatly disabled the academic and career potential of that generation -
April 1969
Ninth Congress of the CCP convenes in order to address the national troubles that resulted from the Cultural Revolution; focused on discouraging the need to find supposed “enemies of the party” and shifting attention towards promoting the importance of Maoist ideology. Lin Biao is promoted to vice chairman and is named successor. Emphasised rebuilding the Party, stabilising the economy, and establishing foreign relations. -
1971
Lin Biao’s ambitions threatens Mao’s position within the party. Supposedly, Lin tried to assassinate Mao in early September 1971 and failed. Lin and his family flee to Mongolia and are shot down. Notice of Lin’s death was delayed to the people for a year and when the story broke, people generally felt betrayed by the man who had garnered a reputation for being Mao’s biggest supporter. Challenged the legitimacy of the Cultural Revolution. -
1974
Jiang Qing instigated the “Criticise Lin Biao, Criticise Confucius” campaign in order to scapegoat all the chaos and economic turmoil of the Revolution onto his death. The campaign expanded to scapegoat Zhou Enlai, who supported both ideologies. Both fail to achieve that purpose. Deng Xiao Ping regains political influence with the help of Zhou En Lai. -
1976
Zhou Enlai’s death enables Deng Xiaoping to become vice premier which was criticised by Jiang Qing. Mao replaces him with the unknown moderate Hua Guofeng.
After Mao’s death, Hua Guofeng becomes chairman and arrests Jiang Qing and the Gang of Four who had lost favour with the people. He scapegoats the faults of the Revolution onto them and leaves Mao’s reputation blameless. -
April 5,1976
Zhou Enlai’s death and his status as a moderate leader garners an unprecedented attendance at his memorial. Attendees use the occasion to criticise Jiang Qing and co. ; wide scale violent suppression and dispersion of the attendees.